Massage apparatus

ABSTRACT

A massage apparatus having a frame with supporting means adapted to position the frame in substantially parallel relationship with respect to and over a bed, a massage applicator, power means to move the applicator and guide means on the frame defining a prescribed path through which the applicator may move with respect to the frame to provide massage treatment to a person lying on the bed below the frame.

United States Patent Ferguson [54] MASSAGE APPARATUS 72] Inventor: William G. Ferguson, 2518 Broad Avenue,

' Altoona, Pa. 16601 [22] Filed: Oct. 20, 1970 21 Appl. No.: 82,427

52 u.s.c1 ..l28/49,128/44, 128/52 51 1m.c1. ..A6lh 7/00 58 Field oiSezirch ..12s/44,4s s0,

' 128/61, 62 [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 721,737 3/1903 Owens ..128/49 [151 3,672,357 1 1 June 27, 1972 3,403,674 10/1 968 Alimanestiano 128/61 Primary Examiner-Lawrence W. Trapp An0rney-J. Wesley Everett and George L. Brehm [57] ABSTRACT A massage apparatus having a frame with supporting means adapted to position the frame in substantially parallel relationship with respect to and over a bed, a massage applicator,

1 Claim, 20 Drawing Figures PATENTEU JUH 2 7 19. 2

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HGE/V T PATENIEUJUM? 1972 3.572357 sum 5 or 5 Hi: 1 1 11 L m w y MASSAGE APPARATUS This invention relates to a massaging apparatus especially to such apparatus which may be used in conjunction with a conventional bed and wherein a person lying on the bed may receive massage treatments of varying degree and character.

It has been found that certain ills of humanity, especially those caused by nervous tension or extreme anxiety are frequently relieved by gentle massage especially if the person affected can be given the massage treatment when in a lying or prone position. The instant invention therefore provides for treatment with the patient lying on a bed, with the apparatus for applying the massage supported over the bed.

Objects of this invention, therefore, are to provide a massage apparatus meeting the-aboverequirementswhich is simple in structure and reliable and trouble free in operation and which maybe used in the home and does not require skilled medical personnel to operate the same.

The above and other objects and advantages will become more apparent as this description proceeds and reference is had to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification.

In said drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a massage apparatus according to my invention shown positioned over a conventional bed;

FIG. 2 is atop plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. Sis a section on line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a top view of a modified form of the device;

FIG. 7 is a section on line 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a section on line 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a top view of a further modification;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary plan view of the arcuate track of the form shown in FIG. 9, the portions broken away showing detailsof the roller carriage;

FIG. 11 is an elevational view of the detail shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged detail of the swinging applicator carrying arm of the device shown in FIG. 9. q

' FIG. 13 is an elevation view of still another modification of the device;

FIG. 14 is a top 'plan view ofthe modification of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is an end view thereof;

FIG. '16 is a section on line I6 16 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of one of the supporting stanchions and cross-arm members for supporting the frame;

FIG. 18 is a side elevational view of a modified form of adjustable support for the massage device;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged fragmentary view of this modified support of FIG. 18; and

FIG. 20 is a section on line 20-20 of FIG. 19.

Referring now in more detail to the drawings, and for the present, to FIGS. 1 to 5 thereof, 10 indicates a substantially rectangular frame having side members 11 and 12,.and end members 13 and 14. This frame is supported in horizontal position by means of two substantially U-shaped side supports 15 and I6 having upstanding vertical leg portions l7, 18, 19 and 20 which are received in sockets or the like in the corners of the frame and are adjustable therein whereby the height of the frame 10 may be adjusted.

A rotary shaft 21 is positioned midway between the side members and parallel thereto and is journalled in bearings 22 and 23 on the end members 13 and respectively. A motor 24 mounted on end member 13 is connected to the shaft'21 to rotate the same. w

Shaft 21 is provided with superposed right and left hand quick threads as shown at 25and a travelling block or nut like device 26 is mounted on the shaft with a portion engaging the threads whereby theblock will be moved back and forth from end to end of the shaft as the latter is rotated in one direction.

The block 26 carries a cross member 27 which extends laterally across the frame which in turn is provided at its ends with journalled rollers 28 and 29 which ride on the side members II and 12 of the frame as shown in FIG. 5 and in greater detail in FIG. 3. If desired the rollers may be provided with toothed rims similar to gear wheels and the frame provided with mating teeth similar to a gear rack. Such construction will help keep the member 27 parallel with itself as it moves back and forth in the frame.

Thev block 26 carries a massage element 30 extending downwardly therefrom. Such element may be in various forms and that illustrated resembles a large comb in shape with a number of teeth or dangling straps or cords 31 which latter may be made of different thickness and stiffness as conditions may require.

As seen in FIG. 1 the device may be positioned over a conventional bed with the U-shaped supports 15 and 16 positioned parallel with the side of the bed. A patient lying on the bed may then receive the massage treatment as the element 30 passes back and forth over the full length of his body.

In the modification shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 the frame 10 is provided with an internal oval track 32 which is in the form ofa channel lying on its side with its open side facing inwardly. The top flange 33 of the channel is provided with an upstanding rib 34 and its lower flange has an internal toothed rack 35.

A carriage member generally designated 36 is mounted for travel around the oval track and carries a bracket 37 to which is fastened the massage applicator member 38.

The carriage member 36 has a portion 39 which fits over the rib 34 of the channel track member and embraces the same.

A power means 40 in the form of an electric motor is incorporated in the carriage member which drives gear means 41 in mesh with the toothed rack 35 of the channel track to propel the carriage around the track and move the massage applicator in a generally oval path.

The frame 10 with its oval track as shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 may be supported over a bed by any means, for example by the means shown in FIG. 1.

The form of the device shown in FIGS. 9 to 12 again has a rectangular frame 10 which, like the previously described embodiments, may be supported over a bed by means similar to that previously described.

In this form the massage applicator is moved back and forth in an arcuate path similar to the motion ofa wind-shield wiper on an automobile.

The motor 42 for operating the same is secured to one of the longer side members ofthe frame and is provided with an arm 43. The motor is of a type which when operating will swing the arm 43 in a back and forth motion.

Arm 43 has an extension 44, the latter freely telescoping within a hollow 45 in the arm 43. The extension 44 is pivotally connected at 46 to a carriage 47 which latter is guided by an arcuate track 48 whose ends are fixed to the end members of the frame 10 and whose intermediate point is fixed to the side frame member opposite that to which the motor 42 is fastened.

The track 48 is in the form of a hollow tube with an open slot 49 throughout its length along one side thereof, while the carriage 47 is located within the hollow tube and is provided with roller means 50 which roll within the tube.

The arm extension 44 has a bracket at 51 and the massage applicator 52 is fastened thereto.

FIGS. 13 to 17 inclusive show a form of support which may i be used to support any one of the devices shown in FIGS. 1, 6 or 9 over a bed. This support is composed of a low base frame member 53 mounted on casters 54 which may readily be wheeled under a bed. At one side of the base frame at least one upstanding socket 55 is provided into which vertically adjustable post 56 is telescoped. Hand set screw 57 in the socket serves to lock post 56 in different positions of vertical adjustment in the socket. Bracket arm 58 attached to post 56 extends laterally outwardly from the post and the frame member 10 of the massage device is fastened thereto. A brace arm 59 may be used between each post and bracket arm to strengthen the same and if desired the connection of each arm 58 may be pivotally attached at 60 to a sleeve 61 adjustable along the post 56 so as to afford angular adjustment of the support bracket 58 and its supported frame if so desired.

ln FIGS. 18, 19 and 20 there is shown another form of support which may be used to support the frame of any of the massage means of FIGS. 1, 6 and 9, this form being particularly adapted to support the frame from the foot of the bed.

A cross member 62 of such length as to extend slightly beyond the sides of the bed spring and mattress is positioned crosswise and under the bed and is held to the bed frame by clamps 63 and 64 which are adapted to grip the side rails of the bed. The cross member 62 extends beyond the foot of the bed and one or more sockets 65 is supported thereon. A post 66 is adjustably telescoped in each socket and is held in vertically adjusted position by the hand set screw 67. A sleeve 68 is slidably mounted on each post 66 and a support bracket 69 is pivotally connected to the sleeve 68 and in turn supports the frame 10 of any of the modifications of massage device previously described. A brace 70 pivoted to the post 66 and the support bracket helps support the frame 10. The sleeve 68 has cables 71 and 72 attached thereto which pass over pulleys 73 and 74 mounted on the socket member 65 and the post 66 respectively and are brought over the bed to the headboard portion thereof to afford adjustment of the sleeve 68 and the bracket 69 carried thereby by a person lying on the bed.

The above described embodiments of my device are preferred forms and what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is defined in the following claims:

lclaim:

l. A massage apparatus comprising:

a. a frame;

b. a support means for said frame adapted to position said frame over a bed;

c. a carrier movably mounted on the frame for movement in a prescribed repetitive path;

d. power means to move said carrier in said path;

e. a massage applicator attached to said carrier and depending below said frame, said applicator adapted to contact a person lying on the bed and provide massaging action as it moves over the persons body, said applicator comprising a motor mounted on the frame, an oscillating arm driven by the motor, and an arcuate guide track in which the end of the oscillating arm is guided to produce the arcuate movement, the carrier being attached to said arm. 

1. A massage apparatus comprising: a. a frame; b. a support means for said frame adapted to position said frame over a bed; c. a carrier movably mounted on the frame for movement in a prescribed repetitive path; d. power means to move said carrier in said path; e. a massage applicator attached to said carrier and depending below said frame, said applicator adapted to contact a person lying on the bed and provide massaging action as it moves over the person''s body, said applicator comprising a motor mounted on the frame, an oscillating arm driven by the motor, and an arcuate guide track in which the end of the oscillating arm is guided to produce the arcuate movement, the carrier being attached to said arm. 